bobm
WTF, WTF, WTF!!!!
Crack it Open!!
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
Nice work man! I like all the thoughts on getting everything square before you tack those hangers on.
The instructions @J Mack were awesome. I was wondering about the idea of putting the mess on a lift before measuring. Easier said than done!
Some of these rigs have seen a lot, and gotten pretty twisted over time. Cool that your frame is hanging free (Commando).
The instructions @J Mack were awesome. I was wondering about the idea of putting the mess on a lift before measuring. Easier said than done!
Some of these rigs have seen a lot, and gotten pretty twisted over time. Cool that your frame is hanging free (Commando).
RUSH55
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #903
So far all indications are that the frame itself is still square despite all the years of rough wheeling. Back when I was measuring for hole placement on the replacement floorpans, I took measurements off of the mounting points on the frame and everything matched. I marked where the centers of the hanger pins were oriented and still plan to use those as a starting point. Re-measure and check for square, then just tack everything. Then I’ll have to wait for the springs to show up and see where to go from there. If everything is as it should be, I’ll fit the axles and put the works back on the ground and then stack a couple pallets of sack cement on it to see where the springs want to stretch to and make sure everything sits as it should. Once everything passes the test then it will get pulled apart, welded solid, and painted.
Still a long road ahead...
Still a long road ahead...
bobm
WTF, WTF, WTF!!!!
So Green thar! Almost NEBULA 
Got one of those myself. Ex govt. F350 crew cab 4wd that we used on the ranch.
Work bench/elk and deer retriever/toy hauler/dump wagon/furniture mover/rock and soil hauler. Even tows Pigs on rented trailers.
27 years old and never let me down.
Everybody NEEDS an old pickup!
Last edited:
RUSH55
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #910
Another marathon cutting and grinding day. But the good news - I think... I think... I’m done with the marathon cutting and grinding on suspension hardware. All the pieces are cut and shaped, only the rear axle shackle hangers left to weld together. All fishplates are done. Cut the last ones for the rear today.
Killin it. Great progress!
Great looking work.
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
Heh heh...
RUSH55
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #914
All the hardware is finished. Put the last rear shackle hanger together today and welded it solid. For fun, I mocked it up and put a shackle through it.
Also finished machining out the bore of the first shackle built shackle hanger by hand with a die-grinder with a flap wheel with some 30 grit belt sander belt taped to the flap wheel. Sorry, no pics
Finished out the rear fishplates. Went around and cleaned the mating surfaces on the frame for the fishplates and threw some high-zinc primer on there, similar to the SEM and other Krylon weld-through primer, in preparation for tacking.
Next, I’ll have to string out the measurements for hanger placement. I ain’t got no fancy laser, Bocephus.
*edit
Do not use the paint product featured in the pic for weld-through applications. It isn’t suitable.
Also finished machining out the bore of the first shackle built shackle hanger by hand with a die-grinder with a flap wheel with some 30 grit belt sander belt taped to the flap wheel. Sorry, no pics
Finished out the rear fishplates. Went around and cleaned the mating surfaces on the frame for the fishplates and threw some high-zinc primer on there, similar to the SEM and other Krylon weld-through primer, in preparation for tacking.
Next, I’ll have to string out the measurements for hanger placement. I ain’t got no fancy laser, Bocephus.
*edit
Do not use the paint product featured in the pic for weld-through applications. It isn’t suitable.
Last edited:
A few more welds to go, coming along!All the hardware is finished. Put the last rear shackle hanger together today and welded it solid. For fun, I mocked it up and put a shackle through it.
Also finished machining out the bore of the first shackle built shackle hanger by hand with a die-grinder with a flap wheel with some 30 grit belt sander belt taped to the flap wheel. Sorry, no pics
Finished out the rear fishplates. Went around and cleaned the mating surfaces on the frame for the fishplates and threw some high-zinc primer on there, similar to the SEM and other Krylon weld-through primer, in preparation for tacking.
Next, I’ll have to string out the measurements for hanger placement. I ain’t got no fancy laser, Bocephus.
View attachment 2262190
View attachment 2262191
View attachment 2262192
RUSH55
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #916
Sheesh, what a pain, but I think I got it. A few little oddball discrepancies but everything is squared out now.
From what I’ve come up with, the front of the passenger frame horn protrudes 1/8” more than the driver side.
The rear all squares out against the center of the piece of channel I laid across the front of the wider section of frame, as well as the ends of the frame.
The front axle OEM spring hanger area is what was throwing me off for an hour. On the sixth or seventh time measuring it out, I think I got it right. The problem is the difference in distance from the mark to the anterior rivet hole 🕳
is different from one side to another. It’s a minimal difference now, but for a little while was leaving me scratching my head.
From what I’ve come up with, the front of the passenger frame horn protrudes 1/8” more than the driver side.
The rear all squares out against the center of the piece of channel I laid across the front of the wider section of frame, as well as the ends of the frame.
The front axle OEM spring hanger area is what was throwing me off for an hour. On the sixth or seventh time measuring it out, I think I got it right. The problem is the difference in distance from the mark to the anterior rivet hole 🕳
is different from one side to another. It’s a minimal difference now, but for a little while was leaving me scratching my head.
bobm
WTF, WTF, WTF!!!!
You need a Lazer 
. Just F@#$ing wit ya 
. Just F@#$ing wit ya 
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
Dude, that has to be one heavy frame at this point....not saying that’s a bad thing. Stellar skills.
RUSH55
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #919
So I got busy tacking on fishplates today. This bad-ass welder I’m using (borrowing) struggled the whole time. Popping spatter was continually building in the nozzle. Welds were starting off good enough then would start spattering out and getting porosity. Everything was thoroughly clean. Started thinking about WTF was going on. Two weeks ago I welded the first two fishplates like butter, no issues at all. Now the story has changed. All the settings are the same. Everything was basically the same. Except the fact that I just threw a coat of that zinc primer on the back sides of the fishplates about 30 - 60 minutes prior to welding. I think I was having an issue with off gassing and hydrogen getting trapped in the welds, coming up from between the plates as they heated, even though the actual weld surface was clean.
Funny how this sh*t was just a subject in @Ol Yeller thread, more about the health affects and not it’s affect on the weld, but still!
Possibly an “I told ya so” moment, but...
there still has to be something you put on the surfaces of metals that are getting welded together, or eventually it’s all for naught. I’ve been using this stuff throughout the build and have noticed odd quirks, but this is no bueno since I’m actually trying to make it look good.
My current theory is that this paint actually needs to fully cure before welding (no cure time given on can), possibly a few days. The first two fishplates had the zinc primer on them, but they went several weeks before I welded them, and again, had zero issues. So that is the reasoning for the theory.
Found this info as well during a search -
Funny how this sh*t was just a subject in @Ol Yeller thread, more about the health affects and not it’s affect on the weld, but still!
Possibly an “I told ya so” moment, but...
there still has to be something you put on the surfaces of metals that are getting welded together, or eventually it’s all for naught. I’ve been using this stuff throughout the build and have noticed odd quirks, but this is no bueno since I’m actually trying to make it look good.
My current theory is that this paint actually needs to fully cure before welding (no cure time given on can), possibly a few days. The first two fishplates had the zinc primer on them, but they went several weeks before I welded them, and again, had zero issues. So that is the reasoning for the theory.
Found this info as well during a search -
Porosity in Welding - Defects / Imperfections in Welds
The characteristic features and principal causes of porosity imperfections are described. Best practice guidelines are given so welders can minimise porosity risk during fabrication
www.twi-global.com
